Padres on deck: Cardinals at Petco to finish homestand

Thearon W. Henderson / Getty Images

The Cardinals won three of four in San Francisco to keep their NL Central deficit a manageable but not promising six games. They three games behind the Rockies, the current owner of the NL’s second wild card. San Diego took two of three from the Cardinals last month in St. Louis.

The Cardinals won three of four in San Francisco to keep their NL Central deficit a manageable but not promising six games. They three games behind the Rockies, the current owner of the NL’s second wild card. San Diego took two of three from the Cardinals last month in St. Louis. (Thearon W. Henderson / Getty Images)

The Padres have won three in a row, the first such streak against the Dodgers since June 5-21, 2013. They are also coming off their first series win over LA in nearly year. Their minus-143 run-differential is also now just six runs worse than the Giants (minus-137).

The Padres have won three in a row, the first such streak against the Dodgers since June 5-21, 2013. They are also coming off their first series win over LA in nearly year. Their minus-143 run-differential is also now just six runs worse than the Giants (minus-137). (Alex Gallardo / AP)